Life with Copen from Ikeda,Osaka

 Dear fellow Copen owners — Did you know this? The Copen’s interior rearview mirror can actually move up and down about 3 centimeters! I just found out last night. (lol) Since I bought the Copen two months ago, I had been thinking: "The mirror blocks my view... but oh well, that’s just how it is." When I took delivery, my Copen’s rearview mirror was positioned at the lowest setting. Because of that, the mirror partially blocked my view to the front-left, especially noticeable since I have a tall torso. But normally, you expect a rearview mirror to adjust only for angle, not for height , right? So I had completely given up. Until last night. While flipping through Motor Fan: Copen Complete Guide , I casually noticed a line: "The Copen’s rearview mirror uses a two-pivot system and can be adjusted vertically." Seriously?! Immediately, I ran to my Copen, grabbed the mirror with both hands, and gave it a ...

 At my regular used car dealer, Daihatsu CarNet Itami , they recommended a simple but effective upgrade: installing a Rear Performance Brace . It’s hard to see in the photos, but it's basically a thin black bar mounted around the center of the rear floor area. The Rear Performance Brace is originally included in Daihatsu's optional "Sports Pack" for the Copen. The full Sports Pack also tightens up the springs and shocks, but I decided to just install the brace alone. The idea is that the brace increases body rigidity without sacrificing ride comfort. Since it’s an official Daihatsu part, the cost was very reasonable: About ¥1,000 per brace Less than ¥3,000 for both sides Total around ¥5,000 including installation A true "petit modification"! (lol) Driving impressions after installation: I could definitely feel that the body became more rigid, especially around the rear floor and suspension mounting points. ...